Majordomo

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This article is about an occupation. For the e-mail software, see Majordomo (software). For the brand of chocolate, see Mayordomo.
Majordomo at hotel des Deux Magots, Paris 25 November 2009

A majordomo is a person who speaks, makes arrangements, or takes charge for another. Typically, this is the highest (major) person of a household (domūs or domicile) staff, a head servant who acts on behalf of the owner of a large or significant residence.

A majordomo may also, more informally, be someone who oversees the day-to-day responsibilities of a business enterprise.[1] Historically, many institutions and governments – monasteries, cathedrals, and cities – as well as noble and royal houses also had the post of majordomo, who usually was in charge of finances.

Additionally, the Hispanos of New Mexico use the related term mayordomo to refer to the manager of an acequia system for a town or valley.

Etymology[]

The origin is from maior domūs (Latin for '"principal of the house"'), and it was borrowed into English from Spanish mayordomo or obsolete Italian maiordomo. Also, it is found as French majordome, modern Italian maggiordomo, Portuguese and Galician mordomo, and Romanian and Catalan as majordom.

Examples in fiction[]

In Les Misérables, Major Domo oversees proceedings at the wedding of Marius and Cosette, in the stage version, introducing M. and Mme. Thenardier to the wedding waltzers.

Herbert Cadbury is the butler to Richie Rich in the Harvey Comics series of the same name. Cadbury cares for the wealthy child and most of the household affairs around him.

Walter Slezak as Maurice Clavell in the comedy film Come September (1961) not only plays the role of Rock Hudson's majordomo, but also takes advantage of his employer's absence to turn the luxurious Italian villa into a resort hotel.

In the U.S. television sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies, the Clampetts go to England and are introduced to the majordomo of the castle they bought, and believe that is his rank in the army and his last name. When he tries to correct them by saying his last name is Faversham, they think Faversham is an English greeting instead.

In the 1981 TV series Dynasty and the 2017 rebooted version, Joseph Anders is the majordomo of the Carrington manor.

In the show Liberty's Kids, Lady Phillips refers Moses and Benjamin Franklin's majordomo.

Michael Carter portrayed the twi'lek Bib Fortuna, Jabba the Hutt's majordomo, in Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi. Fortuna screens visitors, handles low-level bargaining, as well as carrying out Jabba's wishes in the court.

The character Jonathan Higgins (portrayed by John Hillerman) served as the majordomo of the Robin's Nest estate in the Magnum, P.I. series.[2] For the 2018 reboot, Higgins was re-written as a woman, named Juliet Higgins where she is portrayed by Perdita Weeks.[3]

In the 1991 Disney animated film Beauty and the Beast, in addition to being the head butler, Cogsworth also has the position of the castle majordomo, before and after his enchantment as a mantel clock.

In the 1994 film The Lion King, the character Zazu, a red-billed hornbill voiced by Rowan Atkinson, serves as majordomo (or as he introduces himself, "majordodo") to Mufasa and later his son Simba after he became king.

In a play on the word, the 2018 film Isle of Dogs includes a character named Major-Domo who serves as a majordomo.

In the 2021 Disney series The Book of Boba Fett, a majordomo speaks in place of the mayor of Mos Epsa.

In the 2021 web television adaption of Foundation, Eto Demerzel serves as the emperor's majordomo.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "majordomo". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
  2. ^ Saperstein, Pat (2017-11-10). "John Hillerman, Emmy-Winning 'Magnum, P.I.' Actor, Dies at 84". Variety. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
  3. ^ Perdita Weeks at IMDb
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